Skinny Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Fall is here which means everything has pumpkin in it! We are having a "cold front" in Florida so what better time than now to jump on the pumpkin bandwagon. These mini muffins are the perfect snack and even my toddler loves to take them to school for snack. The pumpkin keeps them nice and moist inside. You can make these into regular sized muffins and you should get around 14 larger muffins. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Skinny Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Source: Skinnytaste
Servings: 24 mini muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3/4 cup raw sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
2 tbsp virgin coconut oil (or canola)
2 large egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
baking spray
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a mini muffin tin with paper liners and lightly spray liners with oil for easy removal.

In a medium bowl, combine flours, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside.

In a large bowl mix pumpkin puree, oil, egg whites and vanilla; beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of the bowl. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, then blend at low speed until combined; do not over mix. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared muffin tin and bake on the center rack for 22 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Baked French Toast Muffins

Breakfast is still my favorite meal of the day, except dessert of course, so it's fun to try new recipes. We rarely have french toast at home, but whenever we go out for breakfast it's something I usually order. This weekend we had family over to celebrate my mother-in-law's special birthday and I wanted to make something a little bit different as a treat. These french toast muffins didn't disappoint.

As a host, it is always nice to have dishes that can be prepared the night before so there is one less thing to worry about the day of your event. I mixed up the bread and filled the muffin tins the night before so that all I had to do in the morning was make the stresuel topping and put them in the oven. The tops had a sweet crunch while the french toast stayed nice and moist. I substituted Almond milk for a dairy allergy and no one noticed. Plus, you can enjoy the flavors of french toast without standing over a griddle all morning!

Baked French Toast Muffins
Source: Two Peas & Their Pod
Yields: 12

Ingredients:
1 loaf French bread, cut or torn into 1/2 inch cubes (about 12 cups of bread)
2 1/2 cups milk
6 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

2. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Add about 1 cup of bread cubes to each muffin cup. Carefully pour egg and milk mixture evenly over each muffin tin. You may need to press down on the bread cubes after you pour a little mixture and then pour more. Pour slowly or you will have a mess. Or you can combine everything in a large bowl and then fill the muffin cups. Cover the muffins with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight.

3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To make the cinnamon streusel, in a small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together with your hands, until you have a crumbly mixture. Remove the muffins from the refrigerator and sprinkle the muffins evenly with the streusel topping.

4. Bake for 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Let muffins cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and serve with butter and maple syrup, if desired.

Rolo pretzel treats

Be forewarned that these are addicting since they are both salty and sweet and the perfect bite size to be popped in your mouth. They are simple to make and can be themed for any holiday based on the color m&m's you use. Perfect for your next get together.

Rolo Pretzel Treats
Yield: about 45 candies

Ingredients:
1 package (11 oz.) Rolo candy, unwrapped
small pretzels
M&M candies
 
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Place pretzels in single layer on parchment lined cookie sheet. Place one Rolo on each pretzel.

Bake 3-5 minutes or until caramel begins to soften, but not melt. Remove cookie sheet from oven and immediately press an M&M into the top of the Rolo, pushing down so the Rolo fills the pretzel. Let cool completely.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Muffins

One of the things I dreamt about was being able to cook with my child. Now that day is here and my daughter loves to "help" cook. She pulled up a chair and helped put the muffin liners in the tin and mix all of the dry ingredients into the bowl. As she anxiously watched them bake in the oven, it was all I could do to let them cool down before she had to taste her hard work. They are truly kid and mother tested and approved. These are full of oatmeal to keep you full and not too sweet. They are also perfect to be frozen and defrosted on busy mornings.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Muffins
Source: Bella 
Servings: 12-14

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup old-fashioned oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

¾ cup packed brown sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix the first six ingredients together in a bowl. In another bowl (or stand mixer), beat the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients until moistened.

Grease muffin pan and fill each cup till its 2/3 full. Bake at 400° for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick or fork inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.